The evening world., 1887-11-14

the temple where the Old South church peo-
pie pursue their devotions, and while the
rich and fashionable and blue-blooded resi-
dents Of the Back Bay beyond are vending
their way hoiDeward nj noon. the less favored
but just rs worthy people Of the every day
walks OF life are congregating in the Museum
Yestihule awaiting the opening of the gates
TO the world OF beauty and wonder within.
They are plain people, these are. Their
garments are not of silk, but their faces are
honest, their demeanor is dignltied and their
eagerness is undisguised. Here You will see
day laborer, the shop girl, the factory girl,
the father with a troop of merry little ones
following delightfully."- Mt his heels, the
mother with the baby in her arms, and n
They come in crowds Of all ages, all nation
a%lities, conditions and walks in life, a
well-behayed, neatly dressed and intelligent
lot.
visited the Museum this afternoon was sur
priscd at what he saw. A turnstile at the
door registers the number of the sight-seers
M they pass in. 1t was then an hour before
sunset.
49," How many registered to-day ?" asked
The EVENING WORLD man of the turnstile
keeper;
far"
Isn't that a large number ?"
Bless you, by no means" he replied.
" We've had as many rs 8, 800 here on a Sun
day, and last wear We averaged 1.445 through
the year"
Yes and then the school children come
in crowds. The average Saturday attendance
for 1886 was close to 300"
b" On the pay days, what is the average ?"
y In 1856, we averaged only Go ut a quarter
of n dollar admission"
This Museum must be popular with the
working people 7" said the correspondent to
the Indy secretary.
" Yes, decidedly so. Our visitors are nearly
all from the working classes, such as you see
here to-day; people whose only holiday is
Sunday, and who improve it by coming here.
Out of 1921 600 admissions last year, over
ninety per cent. we're free admissions on
" Have you ever had any trouble with these
peop Hono worth mentioning on,r
rarely is it that we have to call in the aid of
n policeman who is detailed here. The peo-
pie are very we'll behaved, very quiet and
evidently bent on learning and seeing all
they can"
Have any. of the objects on exhibition
None to speak of. You see we request
everybody not to handle the objects, and
they obey"
How long has the institution been kept
open on Sunday 7"
=" Since it occupied this building, in 1876"
An you've found the system satisfactory
in every way p"
Perfectly. On some days it is a perfect
panorama to see the crowds of Italians who
come in. They wear their national costume,
you know, and seem to be so highly delighted
with everything. I've seen the same faces
here over and over again, and some days as
many as 100 of this nationality alone drop in.
Do we have colored people among the
visitors? Yes, indeed, and Cinnamon too;
and you've no idea how they enjoy them
selves"
And we'll these people may enjoy them
selves and learn of the true and the beautiful
things this world contains. The Boston
Museum of Fine Arts is not only a demo-
cratically conducted institution, as well as a
wisely managed one, but it has within its
walls collections and exhibitions of sur
passing value and interest, as well as
of great antiquity and manifold va
riety: The building itself is an architect
ural beauty, built largely of erra-cotta, COM
pose. The first floor is given up to statuary
and sculpture of ancient and modern periods,
and the second floor to the exhibition of
engravings, paintings, etchings, wood and
ivory carving, arms and armor, textiles, fur
niture, metal work, Chinese and Japanese
art. pottery and porcelain, which comprise
the mechanical, the artistic and the indus
trial handiwork of all the nations of this and
bygone ages. 1t is truly o liberal educa-
tion to spend an afternoon there, and Boston
may well regard this Museum, as Mayor
Cobb, in 1876, when the present building was
opened, said in his address as the crown of
our educational system"
The very best men in this town are at the
head of the institution. They are Martin
Brimmer, President Eliot, William Endicott,
Jr.. Samuel Eliot. Prof. Norton, Samuel ID.
Warren, Charles g.. Loring, Henry L.. Pierce,
Prof. William Gray, w. p. P. Longfellow,
Alexander IL. Rice, and Gen. Francis A.
Walker. Several of these gentlemen were
~incorporators of the Museum when it was
founded in 1870, and began its existence in
tho old Athapmurn huillinn Tba ,rapa,k cite
was presented by the city in 1876, and by the
aid of generous contributions from the citi-
zens-led off by one of 1925, 900 from Mrs. II.
b. Lawrence amounting to 1921 900, the
Museum as it now is was erected. From the
day it was opened, it was the will of the in
corporators to throw open the doors on Sun
day, and il WAS done. To be sure, the church
people opposite objected, but their objections
then are now changed to commentator of
the practice, and to-day there is not a man in
Boston who does not say that the practice Is
n noble one, and productive of a great good
to II great number.
Can New York do as well? Will the great
Metropolis allow itself to continue being
eleven years and next year twelve years be-
hind the timesp Isn't public sentiment in
New York in favor of opening the New York
metropolitan Museum of Art on Sundays?
If not, why not Must it remain for provin-
cial Boston to give points to her big sister OF
will the gentlemen who direct the course of
Central Parks big storehouse of the beauti-
full that is never looked into except by the
eyes of the rich and favored come down to
common sense principles2